Chapleau Cree First Nation Reaches Historic Milestone

Press Release

December 1, 2015 The Mushkegowuk Council of Chiefs extends our sincere congratulations to Chapleau Cree, one of our seven First Nation members,· on the initialing of an agreement to settle a long outstanding Treaty Land Entitlement Land Claim.

For eight long years Chapleau Cree has negotiated with the governments of Canada and Ontario to settle the claim for additional reserve land that was owing the First Nation.

The Agreement in Principle includes the addition of more than 9,100 acres of additional reserve land in the Chapleau, Ontario area as well as a significant monetary compensation package to address loss of use.

After initialing the Agreement in ‘Principle, Chapleau Cree Chief Keeter Carston stated that “Although I feel that we negotiated a very good overall settlement under this process, this still falls far short of what we lost as a People. Canada will never be the country it was intended to be until they truly acknowledge the injustice that has been dealt us as a nation and we have real truth and reconciliation.”

Now that a settlement has been reached, it is up to the members of Chapleau Cree to decide whether to proceed with finalizing the deal. A referendum will be held and information packages are being mailed out to all members.

Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Jonathan Solomon acknowledged this important step and said that “On behalf of all the Chiefs and members of Mushkegowuk Council, we extend our congratulations and compliments to Chapeau Cree First Nation in reaching this significant goal. It is through their tenacity and dedication that they have achieved this remarkable objective.” He went on to say that “I hope that in future we will see the governments of Canada and Ontario make a more serious effort to right past wrongs imposed on First Nations.”

For more information contact Chief Keeter Carston at chief@chapleaucree.ca or

.(705) 864-0784. Grand Chief Jonathan Solomon can be contacted at grandchief@mushkegowuk.ca or 705-658-4222, ext. 102 or by cell: 705-363-7122.

Mushkegowuk Council is a regional organization that represents the collective interests of the Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Chapleau Cree, Missanabie Cree, Moose Cree, Taykwa Tagamou and Attawapiskat First Nations in northeastern Ontario.

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